Amy Woodfield
BBC News

East Midlands Ambulance Service has cancelled all non-emergency patient transport journeys because of the snow.

Image source, East Midlands Ambulance Service

Patients who have appointments for vital treatment, such as chemotherapy and dialysis, and patients leaving hospital, will be prioritised.

Anyone with a friend or relative due to be discharged from hospital today or tomorrow is asked you to help by collecting them if possible.

In Penzance, where temperatures are currently -1C, swimmers cooled off with a dip in the sea.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Siberian chill will continue to have a big impact on Scotland tomorrow, but another weather system will affect areas to the west of the UK.

The weather system, named Storm Emma by the Portuguese authorities, will reach the UK on Thursday.

A vigorous area of low pressure will bring some snow to south-west England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Yellow warnings have been put in place by the Met Office.

BBC reporter Sharon Barbour has tweeted this video from the A1 in Northumberland which shows how difficult the conditions are.

More than 2,200 properties were without power in the south west of England at 15:10 GMT plus another 470 in the Midlands, Western Power Distribution said., external

By 15:30 GMT, power had been restored to many premises and around 1,400 properties were left without power.

According to Northern Powergrid In the north-east of England, external, 230 properties have power cuts in South Shields in South Tyneside as well as 70 other premises in Morpeth in Northumberland.

Rod Gardner, Northern Powergrid's head of network operations, said the company is ready with resources and people if the weather worsens.

Scottish and Southern Electricity networks said it has around 2,000 frontline and support staff available.

All outpatient appointments and routine procedures in Glasgow hospitals will be canceled on Thursday, as Scotland's NHS system responds to a red weather warning.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, external, which runs several hospitals in the city and region, said the decision was taken due to "further adverse weather conditions".

Emergency procedures will still take place and A&E departments will still be open.

The trust said that pharmacies and dedicated minor injury units would be open.

A spokesperson added that the weather had affected the west of Scotland breast screening mobile units, and appointments would be cancelled in the following areas on Thursday:

• Motherwell
• Wishaw
• Barrhead
• Renfrew
• Paisley
• Erkine
• Easterhouse

You can read more on the BBC Scotland live page.

An icy Russian weather front really brings out the best in people, doesn't it?

BBC Radio 1

After a third grueling day completing his aptly-named 'Gregathon', Radio 1's Greg James has reached the summit of Scafell Pike in the Lake District.

It's all part of his challenge for Sport Relief, which has raised more than £127,000 so far., external

One woman living in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders said her husband has been building igloos for the children.

Image source, @mistyhoney/Twitter

Image source, Reuters

BA said it has cancelled all return flights between Heathrow, Gatwick, London City and airports in Scotland on Wednesday., external

It comes after the Met Office issued a red severe weather warning - the highest alert possible - for parts of Scotland.

BA added: "We are keeping flights for later in the week under regular review depending on the latest weather forecasts we are receiving.

"We are aiming to publish any alterations to our schedules by 17.00 GMT the day before the flight."

The Met Office's red weather warning covering large parts of Scotland is now in force, meaning the risk to life is likely,

It will stay in place until 10:00 GMT on Thursday.

The red weather warning means that extreme conditions are expected and immediate action should be taken to keep yourself and others safe.

The Met Office warns roads will be blocked by deep snow and some communities could be cut off for several days.

More on flights. Flybe has cancelled all flights in and out of Scottish airports for the rest of the day, external, as the red weather warning comes into force in Scotland.

Customers have been told they can re-book on a different flight in the next week for free.

Scottish airline Loganair has also cancelled all flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee from today until 10:00 GMT on Thursday.

Image source, Reuters

Here's the latest on airport disruption.

• Glasgow airport, which was the worst-hit by snow and grounded all flights, has now reopened its runway. But lots of flights - both domestic and to Europe - have been cancelled., external Some flights due to leave this evening are still scheduled, but others tonight have already been cancelled.
• Leeds Bradford Airport, which grounded all flights this morning, is expected to reopen imminently, a spokesman said. Aircraft are still getting de-iced and the first flight of the day is due to leave shortly.
• Gatwick Prestwick airport, where many flights to Glasgow have been diverted, said it is "open for business".
• Edinburgh Airport, which is in the area issued with a Met Office red severe weather warning (the highest warning possible), is urging passengers to check with their airline before coming to the airport., external
• Many flights out of London City have been cancelled and arrivals have been delayed. Flights are leaving Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow but there are some delays. Many flights out of London Southend are cancelled.
• It's a similar picture elsewhere, with many flights leaving from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester airport as planned - although there are delays.
• At Birmingham and East Midlands airport, some flights are delayed and cancelled but many are on schedule.

With wind chill factors of -12C in parts of the UK, treacherous roads and trains at a standstill, it's easy to be cynical.

But our colleagues at BBC Newsbeat have found six stories to warm the cockles, including this cat playing in the snow.

Video footage shows the sea frozen over at Bembridge Harbour on the east coast of the Isle of Wight.

Temperatures on the island dipped to -6C (21F) overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday.

The footage is courtesy of Island Echo.

ScotRail says there will be no train services in the red weather warning area tonight, or early on Thursday. Most train services will have stopped by 15:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Building sites across the country have ground to a halt due to heavy snow, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs, said: "Some construction bosses have told their staff to take the rest of the week off and not return to work until Monday.

"But it's not just the snow that's playing havoc with construction projects - some firms are reporting that the freezing temperatures mean it's too cold to lay bricks.

"We hope that the cold weather we have seen this week is just a blip and that all workers will be able to get back on site in coming days."